CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Construction is complete on a new Ronald McDonald House in Charleston.
“We’re just absolutely thrilled to be able to open this new house,” said Dwayne Dickens, executive director of Ronald McDonald House of Southern West Virginia.
The new facility will be dedicated during a grand opening ceremony Oct. 13. The facility will be open to families and to the public shortly after that.
“By the beginning of November, we’ll see families staying at our new Ronald McDonald House,” Dickens said. “We’re full right now. We would anticipate 14 families that will move in on that very first day that we open.”
The new house will replace the current Kanawha City facility. CAMC has purchased the building.
The Charleston building, which sits beside the CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital, includes three floors. The first floor has a kitchen space, common areas and guest rooms. The second floor has additional guest rooms. A storage unit makes up the third floor.
Dickens said the biggest advantage to the new house is the fact that they’re so close to the hospital.
“They (families) can now walk down from the hospital and enjoy all same amenities that our families that are residing with us have, so it’s really going to open us up to so many more families that we can’t serve now just because of the distance,” he said.
Donors and supporters of the new building will be recognized at next month’s ceremony.
Work on the $3.5 million project began in Nov. 2015.